Nairobi governor candidate Mike Sonko [PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
As Kenyans head into the general elections, key for the Nairobi voter will be the following four battles:
1. Presidential race
Every Kenyan has a point to make over who becomes the president after August 8. With the country divided almost equally between supporters of President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee and Raila Odinga of NASA, the Nairobi voter will be hoping that his side of the battle front wins.
2. Nairobi governor race
This is more a battle of supremacy between NASA and Jubilee than it is a matter of manifestos. Apart from the presidential race, the other battle political parties want to dominate is the Nairobi governor race.
Evans Kidero of NASA is the incumbent. He has had his weaknesses and strengths. He also enjoys incumbency. But Senator Mike Sonko, his chief rival, is also into the race. Sonko garnered more votes in the 2013 election as senator compared to what Kidero got. Will the same Nairobians vote him today?
Will NASA win? Will Jubilee win?
3. Nairobi senator race
Although Jubilee's Johnson Sakaja was initially seen as the favourite in the race against ODM's first candidate Bukachi, the opposition outfit quickly reshuffled the cards, bringing in lawyer Edwin Sifuna. Things have not been the same again.
Each of the two contestants believes they will win, and their supporters have faith their factions will win. So who wins?
The voter is out to determine that today.
4. Starehe MP seat
With the incumbent Maina Kamanda out of the race, the battle is left to fresh blood in the name of Steve Mbogo (NASA), musician Charles Ngagua (Jubilee) and activist Boniface Mwangi.